In July 2012, I attended a film festival on Waiheke Island outside of Auckland, New Zealand. Invited by a colleague who worked for a big film organization at the time and helped organize the event, this was the first ever festival of films made by Maori women. Named the Whiti Whitiāhua Wāhine: Māori Women's Film Festival, it was part of the nationwide Matariki Festival which ran for several weeks. Several of the filmmakers attended and introduced their work, among them Kararaina Rangihau who is devoted to making films in the Maori language. On the ferry leaving the island for Auckland, I was able to catch a few minutes with her so she could talk about her film, Taku Rakāu e, which explores the story behind a well-known waiata (a Maori song that preserves the wisdom and knowledge of ancestors). Rangihau's film was produced by the late Merata Mita, the legendary and extraordinarily influential filmmaker. Mita was one of the earliest Maori women filmmakers and helped to influence many filmmakers both within and outside of New Zealand.

Shero is a film by Lymari Graciano that will be part of Hawai'i Women in Filmmaking's "Work in Progress" screening on April 23 in Honolulu.

Unlike the every day super hero, Shero battles more than just evil villains. Shero battles broken heels, runs in his stockings, broken nails, and the scorn of the public. Uncomfortable in men’s clothing, all Shero wants to do is wear a dress while kicking ass. Is that so much to ask? Shero questions if the clothes really do make the man. A film by Lymari Graciano. If you want to know more about Lymari, click here.

Our Work in Progress Screenings provide a great opportunity for local and visiting women filmmakers to screen their unfinished films to an audience and get valuable feedback. It is a time of honest and constructive feedback aimed at helping the filmmakers get to the next stage of completing and distributing the film.

April 23 | 6:30 pm @ The ARTS at Marks Garage | FREE and open to the public! Facebook page event, here.